"While woodsy scents are usually darker the more powerful they get, lately we've seen a different trend where stronger but still light woods are paired with citrus or spice to produce a more vibrant, energetic kind of power that feels modern, clean, and sexy," said Alex Gilman, fragrance expert at LuckyScent. "A great example is French niche newcomer Parle Moi de Parfum, a brand from the sons of legendary perfumer Michel Almairac. The Cedar Woodpecker ($145) has been flying off our shelves."
Cedar Woodpecker boasts a sturdy cedar base that's been electrified with green citrus and tamed with velvety soft iris.
Nest Verde ($72) also fits into this trend with its rich panel of wild fern, Himalayan ceder, zesty verbena leaves, and musk.
Both have a masculine edge to them, but if you want to go straight men's cologne, Clean White Vetiver For Him ($84) is a great go-to. The borrowed-from-the-boys formula smells likes a well-dressed, freshly showered man who has just returned from a bonfire getaway and still has a bit of sweet smoke lingering in his hair. It features notes of white vetiver, cotton wood, forest moss, amberwood, bergamot, juniper berries, and tonka beans.
For a woody fragrance that leans warm and spicy versus bright, try Juicy Couture Majestic Woods Eau de Parfum ($130). One spritz and you suddenly feel as if you're standing in the center of a wooded forest that happens to be home to a curiously placed praline factory. It's sweet, masculine, and undeniably earthy.
